A ‘Desert Glam’ Styled Shoot At Al Maha Resort

Set in the golden sand dunes of Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa, this glamorous styled shoot was a collaboration between the lovely ladies over at ÉCLAT Destination Management, Totka events, SimAri Beauty, and our newest BCME expert, Mohammad Al Haj of Contessa Bridal. With spectacular pinks and purple hues forming a contrast to the desert dunes, the aim of this shoot was to inspire the growing number of African brides-to-be who choose the UAE to host their destination wedding.

We love the richness of the flowers and the graceful outfits worn by the bride, as well as the gold details interspersed throughout (and take a look at those those head dresses – wow!).  BCME vendor Design by Louma, also adds a touch of luxury with her beautifully designed stationery. Below, Fola Aiyedun of ÉCLAT Destination Management talks us through this striking ‘desert glam’ shoot, with the accompanying images taken by Violet Studios Dubai. If you’re planning a destination wedding in the UAE, we’re sure that this shoot will give you plenty of ideas!

A Note From ÉCLAT Destination Management

Above (left to right): Fola Aiyedun, Ola Kasali-Ayiloge, Mohammed Al-Haj, Svetlana Latypova & Kemi Osimboni

This styled shoot took place at the luxurious Al Maha Desert Resort. It was inspired by the elegant destination bride who loves all things glamorous yet is drawn to the understated beauty of a natural landscape, such as the UAE desert. Working with an amazingly talented team of vendors, it was therefore our aim to create the perfect blend of ultra-glam combined with an authentic desert feel.

We styled the bride in three different outfits. The first was a gorgeous vivid purple caftan for a dazzling desert engagement look. The second piece our bride wore was a vintage-inspired pearl accented Max & Co gown. The final dress was by Justin Alexander and featured heavy crystal detailing. The wedding dresses from Contessa Bridal were a focal point of our shoot, infusing the perfect touch of sophistication and style. Contessa has a wide selection of beautiful and elegant dresses, which made it easy to choose the perfect gowns for the shoot.

The guest table and sweetheart tables were decorated with vibrant flowers that included magenta orchids, pink roses and purple hydrangeas, with a few understated pearl accent pieces that served to add a subtle amount of softness to the look. Tying in all the details beautifully, we played with gold as an accent colour. From the custom cake and the gold invitations and tableware to the natural earth tones of the desert, the opulent colour hues and accent pieces worked very well together.

The Little Pink Book

Organised & planned by: ÉCLAT Destination Management / Photography: Violet Studio / Design & Styling: Totka Events  / Wedding gowns: Contessa Bridal / Flowers: Flowers.ae / Makeup: Simari Beauty / Venue & location: Al Maha Desert Resort / Furniture and Tableware rental: Party Social / Luxury invitation and Stationery: Design by Louma / Couture cake and desserts: Little Miss Cupcakes / Hair: Hair District / Feathered Hair-pieces: ANAQA / Model: Regina Manneh

Looking for more styled shoot inspiration? Click here.